NHL Prospect Mason West Following In Anders Lee’s Footsteps

Mason West, an NHL Draft prospect from Edina, Minnesota, mirrors Islanders captain Anders Lee’s path.

Stefen Rosner

The Elmonters

, and

David Kolb

Jun 13, 2025

BUFFALO, NY — NHL Draft prospect Mason West has a thing or two in common with New York Islanders captain Anders Lee.

Not only are they both from Edina, Minnesota, but West is also the star quarterback for Edina High, like Lee was years ago. Also, like Lee, West has chosen to pursue hockey.

But you may be wondering—how much of a coincidence is this?

It’s not. Guess who his idol was growing up?

“I would just say Anders,” West said at the podium following his combine workout. “He was an idol. Growing up and in high school, I was trying to see his path, and he’s why I wanted to play football because seeing him do it and see how good his career is and how he's leading the team — I was a captain at Edina, and my long-term goal is to be a captain in the NHL one day. I think that's really important for me to be a really good leader on the ice and also be a really good leader off the ice. I think that's one of the cool things about Lee, honestly, is he was a captain throughout high school and college and then brought that leadership role into the NHL. So I think that's super special.”

I asked West if Lee reached out to him at all this season.

“I talked to him about a week before all this happened, and he's a great dude, super nice,” West said. “He actually wanted me to go to Notre Dame (Lee’s alma mater). So yeah, I think I'm super glad to have that support system around me—not just my family, but people that went through that process and get more information, and have all the information inside and make a decision.”

What West meant by “before this all happened” is a bit funny. The 17-year-old, who is finishing up his junior season, actually had no idea that this was his draft year.

“I really didn’t know the NHL stuff was going to happen this year. I didn’t know it was my draft year, to be honest. So, I just kept working hard, and opportunities came my way […] I didn’t know until the start of the dining year (academic year).”

One thing that West didn’t copy from Lee is wanting to be a power forward. The kid is a unit, entering the combine at 6’6.5, weighing 218 pounds.

“Obviously, I'm a big guy, so I try to play that role,” West said. “I want to be more physical and get bigger every year. So I think that can be my role. But, also, I want to be unique. I want to be able to hit and use my body but also try to make those little plays and have good hands and anticipate the game and use that vision from football. I think that could really help me be a unique player in the NHL and try to be a little bit different in that way.”

West did talk with the Islanders at the combine.

“It was good. They were super nice,” West said. “They liked how I played that big powerful role and how I was a little bit unique in how I can make plays. They were saying that, and they got a good thing going there with Lee and those guys. I’d be blessed to get picked there. Anywhere I got picked, I’d try to make the most of the opportunity.”

After recording 49 points in 31 games for Edina High, West left high school to go play for the Fargo Force of the USHL. He recorded nine points (one goal, eight assists) in 10 games.

He will be returning to Edina High for his senior year, where he will play football and hockey before rejoining the USHL after the fall/winter season finishes up.

West is projected to go anywhere from mid-second to late third in the upcoming draft.

After selecting first overall, the Islanders’ next pick is No. 42 (second) and then No. 74 (third). That could be right in the wheelhouse to grab West.